Philip’s life has been guided by faith, family, and community.

Born in Lena, Mississippi, Philip was raised in humble beginnings and strong Christian values. After his family moved to Clinton, Philip excelled in athletics, and he received the opportunity to play quarterback at Baylor University.

Philip’s biggest reward from attending Baylor has been his wife Lisa, whom he met at the school. However, after graduating from college, Philip’s life took a tragic turn as a drunk driver hit a car carrying his parents and sister, and his entire family was killed.

The tragedy changed Gunn's life.

After experiencing this loss as a young man, Philip started his own family and devoted himself to his family, his four children, and his church, becoming a Deacon. Gunn and his wife taught Sunday school and a class for newly married couples to pass along their lessons in faith.

Philip then committed to public service and was elected to the school board. When asked to run for state representative, he ran and won. While serving in the House, Philip was instrumental in organizing the Republicans in the House for the first time in modern history, helping them obtain the majority for the first time in nearly 140 years. And on January 3, 2012, he became the 61^st Speaker of the House of Representatives in Mississippi. 

Under his leadership, schools went from last to 16th in the nation, the unborn were protected, taxes were lowered, and economic prosperity began to return to the state.

The Gunns have been married for 40 years and are the proud parents of Meredith, Alex, Andrew and John David. They have four grandchildren with another on the way.